China remains a major source of pollution, yet it is also pursuing a genuine green transformation. The government has launched a bold plan to rapidly reforest vast tracts of land and restore desert-prone areas. Each year, the nation expands its forested areas by about 50,000 square kilometers, backed by an investment of 70,000 million euros over the last five years.
Saihanba sits in the northern part of Hebei province and covers about 200 square kilometers. Sixty years ago this region was barren, battered by excessive logging and ferocious sandstorms that plagued the area since the 17th century. Yet authorities responded with a decisive reforestation effort, and in mid-1962 the State Forestry Administration approved a plan to transform the landscape. The aim was clear: create a green lung for northern China.
Consequently, Saihanba Mechanical Forest Farm took shape, outlining a strategy to turn the area into a thriving green oasis. The project began with 369 foresters who worked to reclaim more than 20,000 hectares through generations of careful management. Early results were modest, and initial attempts required adjustments before tangible gains emerged.
The world’s largest artificial forest
This massive forest stands as a flagship of China’s Sustainable Development initiative. More than 618 species were planted, spanning 312 genera of vascular plants, within the forest park.
Overcoming climate challenges proved essential. The region features extreme winters, with frosts that can drop to minus 43 degrees Celsius, and brief spells of warmth. Foresters adopted innovative crop technologies to boost survival rates. From an early 8 percent, survival rose steadily to a current high level.
Today Saihanba sustains about 80 percent vegetation capable of protecting and purifying around 137 million cubic meters of water annually, according to government data. The Chinese Academy of Forestry indicates that the forest farm absorbs more than 860,000 tons of carbon dioxide each year and releases roughly 600,000 tons of oxygen.
In 2017, the United Nations acknowledged the man-made forest with a World Champions Award for its environmental contribution, recognizing rehabilitation of a heavily degraded landscape. President Xi Jinping expressed pride in the work and urged a continued commitment to preserving the Saihanba spirit to strengthen ecological protection across the country.
China’s woodland push
Even so, Saihanba is only a small part of a sweeping national effort. The country has made astonishing progress in expanding forests through large-scale plantings and ecological restoration initiatives.
At the turn of the century, the government announced a nationwide reforestation program with the aim of transforming China into an eco-civilization. Regions long vulnerable to climate events have benefited from renewed vegetation and better land management since the late 1990s.
Thus, environmental restoration has become a state priority. China has moved from facing desertification toward building a green shield across vast areas, lifting the share of land covered by forests to significant levels. Official figures from the State Forestry Administration show that around 50,000 square kilometers of forest are saved annually, a figure well ahead of many other nations.
By the end of 2020, roughly a quarter of China’s land was green, a remarkable milestone. Experts estimate this figure has continued to rise, with forest cover reaching around a quarter of the country. The outcomes include substantial reductions in carbon dioxide emissions and notable water savings, reinforcing the idea that green investments yield tangible environmental and economic benefits.
Investment in afforestation has approached 70,000 million euros in the last five years. Government actions against deforestation are tightening, and there is no other country that has recovered as much green space this century. Yet China remains a leader in emissions, with a sizable portion of land still facing aridity.
While challenges remain, the push for extensive green coverage continues to show visible results for people. For instance, in Beijing the risk of spring sandstorms has fallen substantially over the past decade, a testament to the protective role of artificial forests and broader ecological measures.
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Environmental department contact address: [redacted]”